“And a certain Jew named Apollos...an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures...was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John...whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
(Acts 18:24-26)
In spite of all his good qualities Apollos, like many today, was on the wrong side of the Cross. Thus, he needed to be taken aside and instructed in the way of God more perfectly. Apollos’ delema, I believe, is one of the great dangers of the “Deeper Life Movement”: overemphasizing the death of Christ rather than His life.
To major on His death can leave one melancholy. It’s possible to be sad as you walk with the risen Saviour, Lk. 24:17. On the bright side, to come to the realization of His resurrection brings great joy and jubilation! “He is risen from the dead…And they departed with...great joy” (Matt. 28:7-8). Life, not death brings revival, Gen. 45:26-27.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Cor. 15:57. The entire context surrounding this verse concerns the resurrection of Christ. And the same overcoming resurrected Spirit that indwelt Jesus, dwells in each of us, Rom. 8:11. My testimony is that of the song writer, “Because He lives I can face tomorrow!”
“We are more sure to arise out of our graves than out of our beds.”
(Thomas Watson)
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